Our Mission

To provide language and life skills to as many children as possible
We wish to equip children of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds with the necessary language and life skills required in a civilised and diverse twenty-first century society. We subsidise our lesson fees to maintain affordability (keeping them well below the local and national benchmark) to encourage wide participation and inclusion. Furthermore, we wish to extend our outreach to the wider community to engage and benefit children around the world via our radio and video broadcasts.

To assist children to express themselves effectively (verbally, intellectually, creatively and emotionally)
The skills taught via holistic teaching at Leaping Toads greatly assist children when they learn English and other subjects at mainstream school and throughout life. Having a solid knowledge of the mother tongue language has been found to be critical in helping learners to think, communicate and acquire an intuitive comprehension of grammar, which is transferable across languages. This particularly useful when learning a second language.

To promote social cohesion and encourage friendship
To encourage children and parents to maintain links with their native language and cultural identity

Educational development

We are constantly monitoring and developing our holistic teaching processes, led by Leaping Toads’ Principal, Mrs Simona Staputiene. We work closely with universities and our holistic teaching methods are often researched and analysed by PhD students.
Recent university findings have shown that children attending our centre have better verbal and written command of their mother tongue language than similar children learning it in their home country. Please click here to see the research findings.

Our work is recognised by the Ministry of Education of Lithuania, who also send research assistants to our centre. Our pupils have welcomed officials from the Lithuanian Embassy, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania to our centre.

We are also visited by famous artists who share their wide range of experiences and skills with students during workshops

Visitors to our centre include:

Councillor Mr Darren Rodwell, Leader of the Council of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Jane Hargreaves, Commissioning Director of Education at the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Joy Barter, Head of Early Years at the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Helen Jenner, the then Head of Education and Director of Children’s Services at Barking and Dagenham
His Excellency Mr Oskaras Jusys, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Ambassador to the United Kingdom
Her Excellency Mrs Asta Skaisgiryte Liauskiene, the then Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the United Kingdom
His Excellency Žygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuanian politician and former Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States
Mr Ernestas Grabazis, Head of the President’s Protocol Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
Prof. Dr Liutauras Degesys, Professor of Philosophy and contributor at the Council of Europe
Natalie Warren, Community Development Manager
Bernardas Bagdanavicius, architect
Sandra Bogdanova, archaeologist and explorer
Egle Gelaziute-Petrauskiene, book illustrator
Jolanta Rimkute, StudijaLT fashion designer
Simona Smirnova, jazz singer
Kęstutis Kasparavičius, world famous children book author
Saulius Vasiliauskas and Kristijonas Vasiliauskas, Robotics academy in Lithuania
Members of The Royal British Legion

We cooperate closely with:

Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas
Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, Vilnius
Siauliai University, Siauliai
Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas
Marijampole School of Art, Marijampole
Migruojantys Pauksciai, Vilnius

Our Philosophy

We are a unique school, quite unlike any other children’s language and activity centre. Since 2008 we have been teaching children based on an holistic educational philosophy. Our motto is: “play, explore, create and learn!”
mm-np-05

Leaping Toads is a unique language, world and self-cognition studio for children. Language, culture and traditions are taught through the emphasis of critical, reflective and creative thinking. The creative aspect of learning is an excellent method helping you to look at yourself, your real world and understand who you are and your ethnic and cultural identity. This creative principle develops communication and collaboration skills and helps solve problems, alongside moral and interpersonal issues. The school’s children are taught to see the world in more perspectives than they first thought, which is very important. Such learning and creation facilitates a meaningful realisation of yourself, and pleasantly rewards you with the discovery that you yourself are much more than you once knew.
Prof. Dr. Liutauras Degėsys
Head of the Department of Philosophy at the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences and expert in teacher training of the Pestalozzi Programme at the Council of Europe.

Holistic philosophy focuses on and encourages the development of a child’s intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative, spiritual, and humanitarian potentials.

At Leaping Toads, language and life skills are taught not as stand-alone disciplines, but as an all-encompassing part of everyday life through science, art, history, culture and ethics.

Her Excellency Mrs Asta Skysgiryte Liauskiene, Ambassador of Lithuania to the United Kingdom, Mrs Simona Staputiene, Principal of Leaping Toads, Cllr. Darren Rodwell, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council

Our lessons comprise a range of practical, interesting and meaningful activities which are designed sensitively by our teachers, in line with holistic teaching philosophy. They help children: explore and develop new skills and interests; encourage curiosity; promote their confidence, creativity and personality development; and foster an awareness and appreciation for the world, environment, culture and society in which they live.

The positive outcomes of holistic education are gained throughout childhood and teenage years, however the greatest positive impact is achieved when commenced during the child’s early years.